Facility Notes

Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf yesterday said that "efforts continue to get a special session called in September in order to seek legislative approval for the proposed venue in Arden Hills." Wilf: "We're very excited about moving that process forward for our fans and for everybody in the state who utilized the Metrodome in such a good fashion for the last 30 years. This will be a great venue for the next generation." Wilf stressed that he "does not believe the stadium is being pushed aside by legislators" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/4).

BRING OUT THE SUNSHINE BAND: In K.C., Tod Palmer reports Livestrong Sporting Park "will serve as the launching pad for the U.S. Women's National Team's post-World Cup tour" with a Sept. 17 game against Canada. Landing the U.S. team "is a coup for Sporting KC and Kansas City in general." It will be the team's fifth appearance in K.C., but first since '04, and Sporting KC VP/Communications Rob Thomson said, "It's a very exciting day for us. It's been a while since we've had the women here" (K.C. STAR, 8/4).

BEARER OF BAD NEWS: In Memphis, Kyle Veazey reports Public Financial Management Managing Dir Lisa Daniel yesterday told the Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority that a "yearlong NBA lockout could send the fund used to pay off FedExForum bonds into the red by 2022, forcing the city and county to make up the difference." The shortfall "could reach $10.6 million by 2029, or about $600,000 annually for each government." The bonds, authorized in '02 by the authority, are "paid with six different revenue streams." Veazey notes "sales tax rebates from NBA-related sales, such as tickets and concessions to Grizzlies games, and seat rental fees would be most affected by a lockout" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 8/4).

IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE: Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said that a "new effort to build at the Nassau Coliseum site could result in a faster, smoother, more successful development, in part because the town already has approved a mixed-use zone for the area." On Long Island, Randi Marshall notes Hempstead's new zone "allows for 5.4 million square feet of construction, compared with 8.8 million square feet" in the $3.8B Lighthouse Project, which Islanders Owner Charles Wang had proposed for the site. But while "some local developers said they had ideas for the 77 acres of land, they also noted the town's limit on total density might make any plan with an arena less feasible" (NEWSDAY, 8/4).